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One day while living in Nairobi, Kenya, Kenton Lee found himself walking to church next to a young girl. He noticed that, despite their lengthy walk, her shoes were far too small for her little, but growing, feet. He felt sorry for her and wondered why such injustice existed. To him, shoes seemed like such an obvious thing, such a basic commodity item that hadn’t ever given him a moment’s contemplation. And yet here, for this child, shoes were once given to her, but that was in a distant past and that same pair no longer sufficed for her present needs.

That formative encounter happened in 2007. After much pondering on the simple notion of “why,” Lee launched Because International in 2009, with its first project. The Shoe That Grows is just that: this shoe is adjustable, so it can grow up to five sizes – plus, it’s sturdy enough to last five years. They come in small and large, so that the two pairs can outfit a child from kindergarten age through the ninth grade. Check them out here.

For children in extreme poverty, this shoe is potentially life saving. While we think of shoes potentially for comfort or fashion or warmth, children in under-developed nations are at high risk for soil-transmitted parasites and diseases. We’re talking two billion people here, which is no small audience. In this sense, shoes are truly a barrier against harm – hazards, both seen and unseen.

The most fascinating part of all of this is that Lee has innovated not only a product itself with a shoe that grows, but also with its distribution model. Because International encourages its supporters to bring a duffel on their journeys to underdeveloped parts of the world. Each pair of shoes compresses down into itself; thus, you can fit 50 pairs of shoes in a regular suitcase that is allowed by airline weight limits. Yes, you can bring 50 pairs of these shoes in one suitcase, on a plane. So let’s do that math – one person’s trip means 250 collective years of safety for children’s feet. I’d say that’s a game changer.

Instead of waiting in line and checking your calendar (again, when you already know what’s on it), why not play “I Spy” with yourself? Challenge yourself to simply notice the intricacies of your surroundings. Oftentimes there’s nothing earth shattering – but it’s still good people-watching, nonetheless. Sometimes though, your observational skills will prove themselves to be crucial, when you are keen enough to really see something special – and recognize it as such. Wherever your girl-on-her-way-to-church is, I can’t say for sure. However, I can say with certainty that she’s not on your cell phone screen. She’s out there in the world, and is just waiting patiently to be discovered. So, do yourself – and her – a favor, and look up. Absorb what’s around you. Utilize your surroundings. Make the most of your seemingly mundane tasks, and you’ll be amazed what creative ideas spring forth as a result.